After Fire, First Baptist Dallas Begins Rebuilding

First Baptist Dallas, which has more than 16,000 members, has broken ground on a new sanctuary nearly two years after a devastating fire. The project, with an estimated cost of $130 million, is scheduled to open on Easter Sunday 2028.

“Today is a historic day in the life of our church, a milestone day on which we remember God’s faithfulness and goodness to us for the last 158 years,” Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress said at the recent groundbreaking ceremony, according to “The Christian Post.”

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson praised the church’s role in the city.

“When the historic sanctuary was lost to a fire back in 2024, our entire city grieved that loss,” he said. “Yet what we witnessed in the days that followed was a reminder that a church is more than a building. It’s people united by faith, purpose and hope.”

During the ceremony, a tower crane lowered a salvaged stone from the original sanctuary, which features a carved Bible and an anchor. This artifact, which survived the fire, is set to be incorporated into the new building.

Church leaders view the project as an opportunity to strengthen ministry for future generations while honoring Dallas history. “Buildings can burn,” Jeffress said. “But churches can’t be burned. A church built on the Lord Jesus Christ can never be destroyed. The gates of hell will not prevail.”

The rebuilt sanctuary will restore historic elements while incorporating modern enhancements. Features will include familiar dark-red cushioned pews, organ pipes, restored stained glass and a newly exposed wood truss. The centerpiece of the sanctuary will be 16 new stained-glass windows depicting the Bible’s redemptive story, inspired by W.A. Criswell’s sermon “The Scarlet Thread Through the Bible.” These will illustrate eight Old Testament and eight New Testament scenes, from creation to Christ’s return.

Beneath the sanctuary, a new multipurpose event venue with modern technology will seat about 550 people. New escalators and elevators will provide direct access, and the ground-level entry through the Criswell Center will feature an expanded fellowship lobby.

Insurance will cover the majority of costs, with the church responsible for approximately $27 million. Significant support has come from major donors such as David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby. who provided a $7 million matching gift. The Jim Donald family matched it with another $7 million, bringing combined commitments to $14 million alongside more than $10 million from other church members.

–Alan Goforth